On Collecting Rationales for Defending Challenged Works

1984 NCTE Annual Business Meeting in Detroit, Michigan

Background This resolution stemmed from an awareness among NCTE members that the problem of dealing with advocates of censorship is a perennial challenge and that teachers must be poised at all times to mount a reasoned defense of the literary works and teaching materials in their schools—and on occasion, in colleges as well.  They called on NCTE to make materials for such community education efforts widely accessible.  Be it therefore Resolution Resolved, that the National Council of Teachers of English Standing Committee Against Censorship collect or develop rationales for the defense of works that are challenged; and           that the Committee use appropriate agencies and other resources for publication, storage, and dissemination of these materials.